“Rispone has already put up five million of his own money, Kennedy has three million in federal money, and Republicans expect the Governor to have ten million by the time he enters the election cycle.”

And if Kennedy is a participant, Alford says you’ll get a clear ideological divide between him and the governor on key issues that will shape the state’s future, a divide that’s played out publicly since Edwards took office.

“There’s some very different sets of opinions on everything from criminal justice reform to fiscal policy, and we’re getting a preview of that right now.”